Sheet conveying, stacking, and delivering apparatus



Aug. 12, 1952 H. s. MORRISON SHEET CONVEYING, STACKING, AND DELIVERING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 14, 1950 Fi i. 2

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SHEET CONVEYING, STACKING, AND DELIVERING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Hugh SMornson.

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ATTORNEKS Aug. 12, 1952 H. s. MORRISON SHEET CONVEYING, STACKING, AND DELIVERING APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOA. Hugh 5. MOFIISOI'I. BY M, 2 ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1952 SHEET CONVEYING, 'STACKING, AND I DELIVERING APPARATUS Hugh S. Morrison, Baltimore, Ohio, assignor to Fairfield Paper and Container Company, Baltimore, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application April 14, 1950, Serial No. 155,845

My invention relates to sheet conveying, stacking, and delivering apparatus. It has to do, more particularlsuwith apparatus of this general type which is particularly suitable for handling sheets of paperboard, such as corrugated paperboard sheets. However, my invention is not limited to the handling of paper sheets.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 67,496, filed December 27, 1948, which issued as Patent No. 2,506,550 on May 2, 1950.

In its general construction, the apparatus of the present invention is similar to that disclosed in my copending application. As in such application, I provide in the present apparatus a first conveyor which is continuously driven and which will carry the sheets to a second conveyor which, when receiving the sheets, will be stationary. On this second conveyor, the sheets will be stacked untilthe stack consists of a preselected number of sheets, or will be of apreselected height, at which time the second conveyor will be actuated toflcarr'y, the stack to a delivery or removal point. The feed of the sheets from the first continuously driven feed conveyor onto the second intermittently movable conveyor is controlled by a suitable gate associated with the first conveyor which canbe actuated to interrupt the feed of the sheets.. :Theactuation of the gate and the movement of the second or delivery conveyor is controlled 'by' automatic control mechanism associated with the'second conveyor. This control mechanism is adjustable so that the apparatus can handle and stack sheets of different lengths.

The present invention provides an improved gate structure and improved controlling means therefor. Theimproved gate structure will prevent jamming of the sheets at the gate, with resulting damage thereto, and the controlling means will serve to more positively and more.

quickly actuate the gate at the proper intervals. The preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in'the accompanying drawings wherein similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts andrwhereina' Figure 1 is a plan" view of apparatus constructed according to-my invention. c Figure 2 is a side elevationalview of the apparatus of- Figu iel;

Figure 3 is a verticaltransverse sectional-view taken substantiallyalong-line 3-3 of Figure 1 and illustrating sheet-stopping means associated with the delivery conveyor.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 44 of Figure 3, a

12 Claims. (01. 214-6) Figure 5 is a front view of the forward end of the feed conveyor and the gate mechanism for controlling feed of sheets therefrom.

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of the mechanism shown in Figure 5.

Figure Tis a horizontal sectional view taken along line l! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view illustrating the operation of the gate in association with the dis- Y charge end of the feed conveyor.

Figure 9 is a schematic view in perspective of the conveyors and associated control mechanism. Figure 10 is a schematic view in side elevation illustrating the feed and stacking of the sheets and actuation of the control mechanism.

Figure 11 is an elementary diagram of the electric circuit of my apparatus.

With reference to the drawings, in Figures 1 and 2 I have illustrated the general arrangement of my apparatus. ,The apparatus consists of a continuously driven feed conveyor l and an intermittentlyactuated delivery conveyor 2 which are preferably disposed at right angles to each other. The feed conveyor i will receive the sheets to be stacked, such as corrugated sheets, from a forming machine, or other suitable source, and will feed them to the delivery conveyor 2 upon which they will be stacked in a stack, which will be of a preselected height and, therefore, contain a preselected number of sheets, and the stack will then be carried to a delivery or removal point. X

The conveyor 1 comprises a suitable supporting frame 3 which may be associated with a sheet-forming machine that includes a pair of feed rollers 4. The conveyor l comprises a pair of endless belts 5 and B, the belt 5 passing around driving roller 1 and idler roller 8 and the belt 5 passing around driving roller 9 and idler roller Ill. The upper run of the belt 6 is supported by a plate ll. The rollers l and 9 are geared together and are driven by a belt-drive l2 from a continuously operating electric motor [3. The sheets are fed by the feed rollers 4 into position between'the upwardly inclined belts 5 and B'which will carry them,,during the stacking periods, onto the conveyor 2.

In order to control feed of the sheets from the discharge throat between the belts 5 and 6 onto the conveyor 2, a gate unit M is associated with the discharge end of the conveyor I. This gate unit is illustrated best in Figures 5 to 8.

This gate unit comprises a gate member in the form of a metal plate l5 which extends transversely of the feed conveyor I just ahead of the rollers 8 and Ill. "The plate I5 is mounted for oscillating or rocking movement about the axis of a transverse shaft I6. This shaft I is welded or otherwise suitably secured to the front surface of the plate I5 and projects beyond each end of the plate. The rock shaft I3 has its projecting ends rotatably disposed in bearings I1 mounted in the columns I8 of an upstanding extension of the frame 3 located at the discharge end of the conveyor I. It will be understood that plate I5 is located and rocks between columns I8. One end of shaft I5 projects through one of the columns I8 and carries a pinion I9 which is keyed thereon. This pinion I3 meshes with a vertical rack bar 20 which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in a guide 2| bolted to the column I8. The lower end of rack bar 20 is attached to the upper end of the piston rod 22 which projects upwardly from a cylinder and piston unit 23. The cylinder of unit 23 is bolted in upstanding position to column I3. The gate member I5 will be open normally as shown in full lines in Figure 8. At proper times, the unit 23 will be actuated to rock the gate member into feed-blocking position across the outlet throat between the belts 5 and 5 as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 8. This will interrupt delivery of sheets from between the belts 5 and 6.

When the sheets are delivered from belts 5 and 6, they pass between the feed rollers 24 and 25 which are carried on columns I8 by brackets 26 attached to the side of the columns opposite the side where rollers 8 and ID are located. The roller shaft of the upper roller 24 has its ends mounted for vertical sliding movement in slots 2'! formed in the supporting brackets 26. The roller 25 is positively driven by a chain and sprocket drive 28 from the shaft of the roller 3. The other roller 24 will be driven by frictional contact with the sheets being forced between the rollers 24 and 25. The roller 24 may move vertically away from roller 25 but will normally rest against roller 25 due to gravity. Thus, it will be possible to force one or more sheets between these rollers which will grip them regardless of their number. Similarly, it will be noted, the roller 8 is vertically movable since the ends of its shaft are mounted in the vertical slots 29 formed in the supporting brackets 30. Thus, the forward end of belt 5 can move vertically relative to the forward end of belt 6 which will permit a number of sheets to pile up between the belts.

The cross conveyor 2 is at a lower level than. the conveyor I and is supported by a frame 3| extending at right angles to the frame 3 and being attached thereto. This conveyor 2 is in the form of a series of transversely extending rollers 32 which are rotatably mounted on the frame 3| at the upper side thereof and are in spaced relationship throughout the length of the frame. It will be noted from Figure 1, that all of the rollers are connected together by a series of sprocket and chain drives 33 so that they can all be driven simultaneously. As shown in Figure 2, one of the rollers 32 is driven by means of a chain and sprocket drive 34 from an electric motor 35 supported by frame 3|, which will be actuated during certain periods. Obviously, when motor 35 is actuated, all of the rollers 32 will be positively driven.

For controlling the gate unit I4, and more specifically for controlling the actuating unit 23 of the gate unit, a limit switch 36 is associated with the conveyor 2. This switch 36 is located above the conveyor 2 directly opposite the discharge end of the conveyor and substantially in alignment with the longitudinal center line of the conveyor I. It will be noted that this switch 36 is at the side of the conveyor 2 which is spaced from the discharge end of the feed conveyor I.

The switch 36 of the control mechanism is carried by a bracket 31 which is attached to a vertically disposed stop plate or board 33 which extends longitudinally along the conveyor 2 at right angles to the rollers 32 thereof. This plate 38 is of a length at least equal to the width of the conveyor I and is directly opposite the discharge end thereof. The limit switch 35 is provided with a depending trigger 39 which has its lower ends spaced above the rollers 32 of the conveyor 2. The sheets discharged from the conveyor I will pile up on the conveyor 2, which will be stationary, until the pile or stack is sufficiently high for the last delivered sheet to contact the trigger 39 and actuate the switch 36. The bracket 31 is carried by the plate 38 intermediate its ends and is connected thereto by a screw and slot connection 43 which permits vertical adjustment of the bracket. This, in turn, will permit vertical adjustment of the trigger 39 so that the switch may be set to permit stacking of the sheets in stacks of different heights.

The plate 38, as shown best in Figures 1, 3, and 4 is bolted to the upper ends of a pair of gear housings 4|. Each of these housings 4| projects upwardly between two of the rollers 32. The lower end of each housing is shaped to fit around an I-beam 42 of the frame 3|. the I-beam extending transversely of the frame. It will be noted from Figure 4, that the lower end of each of the housings 4| is provided with guide flanges 44 that overlap the lower flange of the I-beam. Thus, the housings 4| are slidably mounted on the I- beams 42 which are spaced along frame 3|. Each of the housings 4| has rotatably mounted therein a lower pinion 45 which meshes with a rack 46 carried on the upper side of the I-beam 42. This pinion 45 meshes with an upper pinion 41 rotatably disposed in the housing. The pinions 47 are keyed on the shaft 48 which extends laterally of the housings 4| and behind the plate 38 with which it is parallel. This shaft may be rotated by means of a hand wheel 49 in order to move plate 38 and switch 36 towards or away from the discharge end of conveyor I. This adjustment is desirable to permit stacking of sheets of different lengths.

The control mechanism also includes a photoelectric relay 5| and a light source 52 which are associated with the conveyor 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The relay 5| is carried by the column I8 at the angle between the conveyors and 2 by means of a supporting arm 53 which extends over the conveyor 2. It will be noted that the relay 5| is located just Within the adjacent side edge of the conveyor I, over the conveyor 2, and spaced slightly from the discharge end of the conveyor I. The light source 52 is carried by an arm 54 which is secured to the lower portion of the column I8. This light source is located below the conveyor 2 in exact alignment with the relay 5| and the light beam will pass up between two of the rollers 32.

The cylinder and piston unit 23 of the gate unit I4, is controlled by means of a solenoidactuated valve 55 which is mounted on the unit 23, as shown in Figures 2 and 9. This valve, as

shown best in Figure 11, comprises a stem 56 which is moved vertically within the valve housing 51 by means of a solenoid 58. The valve housing is provided with a passageway 59 leading to the upper end of the cylinder of unit 23 and with a passageway 60 leading to the lower end thereof. Air or other actuating fluid is admitted into valve housing 51 by means of an inlet connection 6| located intermediate its height. It is exhausted through a connection 62 adjacent its upper end. The unit 23 is normally in the condition illustrated in Figure 11 with its piston in itslowermost position. When solenoid 58 is energized, the valve stem 56 is lifted. This permits air'from connection 6! to flow into the housing around reduced portion 63 of the valve stem and into passageway 60, through which it will flow into the lower end of the cylinder and raise the piston. Any air in the upper end of the cylinder will exhaust through passageway 59, through a central bore 64 in the lower part of the valve stem and out through a connecting transverse bore 65 into the annular space 66 within the upper end of the housing, which is connected to exhaust connection 52. When the solenoid 58 is de-energized, the valve stem 56 will drop. Air will be supplied to the upper end of the cylinder by passing around reduced portion 63 of the valve stem and through passageway 59. Air in the lower part of the cylinder will exhaust through passageway 60, around the reduced upper portion 61 of the valve stem, through space 66 of the housing and out through connection 62. Thus, when the solenoid is energized, the gate I5 is rocked into feed-obstructing position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 8.

The electric circuit is shown in Figure 11 and comprises the incoming lines LI, L2 and L3, which lead from a suitable source of power to the main switch 16 which has the usual fuses associated therewith. From the switch the lines ILI, IL2

and IL3, lead to the motor starter indicated gen-v erally by numeral H. The lines TI, T2 and T3 lead from the starter H and are connected to the three phase electric motor 35. Leading from the two outer fuses of the switch 70 are th lines Al and A3 which connect to the gate solenoid relay 12. Lines A2 and A4 lead from the relay 12 and connect to the solenoid 58 of the gate control valve 55. Lines Al and A3 also lead to the transformer 13. A line A5 leads from starter H to a time delay relay 14 and then on to the transformer 13. A line A6 leads from starter H to relay l4 and then on to the transformer 13'. From the transformer, the lines A5 and A6 extend to the photoelectric light source 52 which includes the transformer E5, the lines A5 and A6 continuing on from the transformer to the photoelectric relay 5|. The line A5 in passing from the transformer 13 to the photoelectric light source 52 connects with limit switch 36, selector switch 16, and selector switch 11. Each of the switches 16 and T! can be set for hand operation or automatic operation. Line A! connects switches 35 and 16. A line A8 also leads from the starter 'H to time delay relay 14 and then continues to the selector switch 16. The line A9 leads from the starter H to the gate solenoid relay 12. Line AH] leads from the starter H to the switch 11. Line All leads from the starter to a capacitor 18 and line Al2 leads from such capacitor into the starter. Line Al3 leads from the starter to and from the switch 11 and continues on to the photoelectric relay 5|. The line AM leads from the starter H and runs to the photoelectric relay 5|.

In the operation of my apparatus, the limit switch 36 is adjusted to .the proper height to in other words."when the stack is of 1 selected height, the. circuitis soarranged; as to -energize the solenoid 58 of gate control valve 55 and cause the gate I5 to rock downwardly so as to stop the feed of sheets to the side conveyor 2 and to start movement of the conveyor, 2 by energizing. the motor 35. Since feed conveyor I runs continuously, the sheets will merely pile up against gate. l5. Thus, the stack of sheets on conveyor 2 Z.will be moved oil" to a removal point, leavingthe conveyor 2 free to receive another stack of sheets. After the conveyor 2 is stopped, by de-energization of the motor 35, the solenoid 58.0f gate valve 55 is again de-energized to rock the gate. [5 into non-obstructing position, causing I the accumulated pile on conveyor .1 to be fed onto conveyor 2 and permitting successive. sheets. to bestacked. As long as one ormore'sheets'areon conveyor 2 in the stacking position,"the ligh't beam from source 52 is broken andtherelay 5! will notfunction, but when the beam {is Ipermitted to reach relay 5 the motor 35 is de energizedto 'stop conveyor 2 and the gate control valve so1enoid58 is again de-energized to rock. the gate l5. into nonobstructing position.

With particular reference .to thel'circuit diagram of Figure 11, as indicated, the; switches 16 and H may be set for manual or; automatic operation. On manualoperation, the operator can count the sheets and cause the conveyor 2 ltofrnov'elby setting the switch 11 for manualjoperation, and .then manipulating it properly. The gate control valve solenoid 58 may be energized and de-energized to operate gate l5 by settingflthe'switch .16 for manual operation and then manipulating it prop-- erly. The switches 16 and 11 are shown as hand switches in Figure 9 but maybe foot switches. Since the normal operation is automatic, the detailed discussion .of the operation will be directed to the circuit with the switches I6 and 11 set for automatic operation.

0n automatic operation, .assuming that one sheet has been deposited on the delivery conveyor 2, the light beam to the photoelectric relay 5| is broken and the photoelectric relay is closed. As the sheets are built up in the stack, they cause limit switch 36 to open, energizing the gate control valve solenoid 58, which, in turn, rocks the gate 15 into feed obstructingposition causing the feed of sheets from the feed conveyor 1 to be stopped. The interlock on the motor starter H is closed because the motor is not running. At the same time, limit switch 36 opens the circuit to the time delay relay", which is adjustable to vary the period of delay. After a selected time delay, the relay 14 operates and'causes the motor starter H to be connected in the circuit through the photoelectric relay 5 I. This time delay allows the last sheet to be deposited on the stack on the side conveyor 2 before it starts to move. As the conveyor 2 starts to move, the limit switch 36 closes again just as the stack of sheets clears it but the gate does not rock into non-obstructing position because the interlock on starter H is now open since the motor 35 is running. The motor 35 runs,

so as to drive the conveyor 2, until the "stacker sheets is moved entirely to one side of the conveyor I on conveyor 2, towards'the removal point,

and at this time, the photoelectric light beam, I

rock upwardly andpermits theconveyor l to deliver more sheets to the "side conveyor 2. The first of the sheets delivered after the gate rocks upwardly, again interrupts the light beam from the source 52 and closes the relay thereby setting the circuit up for a new cycle.

As previously indicated, one or more sheets may be fed simultaneously between rollers 24 and 25 because the belts and rollers can adjust themselves vertically relative to each other to cooperate for the difference in thickness of material passing between them. f

The gate I5 is positively rocked between its two positions by means ofthe rack and gear mechanism which is actuated by the iiuid cylinder and piston unit 23. Furthermore, as will be noted from Figure 8, the gate I5 is normally inclined forwardly and downwardly so as to direct the sheets into the inlet throat between rollers Hand 25. As the gate rocks into open position, it directs the sheets between the rollers 24 and 25 and will prevent jamming thereof.

Thus the sheets are conveyed, stacked and moved to a point 01' removal automatically. However, as previously indicated, the apparatus can be controlled manually, if desired.

It will be apparent that I have provided novel apparatus for conveying, stacking and, delivering sheets or other similar articles. A number of 'advantages of this structure have been set forth above and otherwill be apparent.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. Apparatus of the type described for conveying and stacking articles comprising a feeding conveyor and. a receiving conveyor disposed in association with each other, means for continuously moving the feeding conveyor, means for intermittently moving the receiving conveyor, means for interrupting feed of the articles from the feeding conveyor to the receiving conveyor and comprising a gate, supporting means for mounting said gate adjacent said feeding conveyor for rocking movement between article nonobstructing and obstructing positions, an actuating unit for the gate, and control means for controlling the said gate actuating unit and the means for moving the receiving conveyor, said control means including a control associated with the receiving conveyor and actuated to initiate movement of it when a stack of articles of preselected height is built up on the receiving conveyor, said control means also including a second control associated with the receiving conveyor and which will be actuated by the stack of articles to stop the conveyor after such conveyor moves the stack to a selected position along the conveyor.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first control includes an actuating member which will be engaged by the top of the stack when it reaches a certain height and wherein the second control includes an electric eye, the light beam 8 V of which is broken by any article in stacking position.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said gate-actuating unit is a fluid-actuated cylinder and piston unit controlled by a solenoid valve, said valve being connected in an electric circuit actuated by said actuating member, and wherein the receiving conveyor is moved by an electric motor which is controlled both by said actuating member and said electric eye.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein means is included in the circuit for delaying operation of the motor after operation of said actuating member.

'5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said actuating member engaged by the stack of articles operates a limit switch incorporated in said circuit and wherein said circuit also includes a switch for controlling the gate-actuating valve solenoid and a switch for controlling the motor which drives the receiving conveyor, each of said gate-controlling and motor-controlling switches being adjustable for manual or automatic operaion.

5. Apparatus for conveying and stacking fiat sheets of material comprising a feeding conveyor and a receiving conveyor disposed in association with each other, the receiving conveyor being substantially horizontally disposed at the end of the feeding conveyor and extending transversely thereof, means for continuously moving the feeding conveyor, an electric motor for intermittently moving the receiving conveyor, a transversely disposed gate associated with the feeding conveyor,

.-, vmeans for mounting said gate for rocking movement relative to the feeding conveyor to control the feed of the sheets therefrom onto the receiving conveyor, an actuating unit for said gate comprising a fluid actuated rack and gear mechanism and a solenoid control valve, and control mechanism for controlling operation of said gatecontrol valve and movement of the receiving conveyor, said control mechanism including an electric switch-actuating member associated with the receiving conveyor and spaced thereabove and located directly opposite the discharge end of the feeding conveyor so that it will be engaged when a stack of sheets of preselected height is built up on the receiving conveyor, said control mechanism also including a photoelectric relay and light source associated with the receiving conveyor, said receiving conveyor permitting the light ray of the source to pass therethrough and reach the photoelectric relay, the light ray being interrupted by any sheet in stacking position, said switch actuating member actuating a switch which is in circuit with the gate-control valve solenoid, with said electric motor and with said relay, actuation of said switch serving to close the gate and to initiate movement of the conveyor, and subjecting the relay to the light beam from the source serving to de-energize said motor.

'7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a time delay relay is connected in the circuit with said switch to delay energizing of the motor after actuating of said switch.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein additional switches are incorporated in said circuit for controlling said motor and said gatecontrol valve solenoid, said switches being adjustable for manual or automatic operation.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the switch-actuating member is vertically adjustable to vary the height of stacking and is adjustable towards and away from the discharge end of the feeding container so as to compensate for sheets of different lengths and wherein the receiving conveyor is disposed at the end of the feeding conveyor at right angles thereto, said receiving conveyor being in the form of rollers, and the photoelectric light source and photoelectric relay being located to permit the light ray to pass up through the rollers, said photoelectric light source and relay being so located that the light ray will be broken as long as one of the sheets is in stacking position.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said feeding conveyor comprises superimposed feeding belts between which the sheets pass and having their discharge ends relatively vertically movable to permit one or a number of superimposed sheets to pass therebetween, feeding rollers associated with such discharge ends between which the sheets pass to the receiving conveyor, said rollers being relatively movable to permit one or a. number of superimposed sheets to feed therebetween.

11. A feeding conveyor for feeding sheets of material comprising a pair of superimposed driven belts between which the sheets are carried, a pair of driven receiving and feeding rollers adjacent the discharge ends of said belts between which the sheets discharged by said belts will pass, means for mounting the discharge ends of said belts for relative vertical movement, and means for mounting said rollers for free relative vertical movement a transversely extending gate between the dischargeends of said belts and 10 said rollers, and means for rocking said gate between feed-obstructing and non-obstructing positions.

12. A feeding conveyor for feeding sheets of material comprising a pair of superimposed driven belts between which the sheets are carried, a pair of driven receiving and feeding rollers adjacent the discharge ends of said belts between which the sheets discharged by said belts will pass, means for mounting said belts to permit relative vertical movement of their discharge ends, means for mounting said rollers to permit relative vertical movement, a transversely extending gate between the discharge ends of said belts and said rollers, means for mounting the gate for rocking movement about a transverse axis, and a fluid-actuated rack and gear unit for rocking said gate between feed-obstructing and non-obstructing positions.

HUGH S. MORRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,581,583 Low Apr. 20, 1926 1,819,841 Hudson Aug. 18, 1931 1,866,284 Adelson July 5, 1932 2,143,049 Belluche Jan. 10, 1939 2,341,793 Keil Feb. 15, 1944 2,467,423 Bruker Apr. 19, 1949 2,506,550 1 Morrison May 2, 1950 

